Unemployment rates drop in region with seasonal job gains

Published 6:30 am, Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Following the April trend for Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Areas, mid-Michigan’s three metro areas saw their unemployment rate fall in April.

The Midland MSA rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points to 4 percent, while Saginaw and Bay City each saw a decrease of 0.7 percentage points to 4.6 and 4.9 percent, respectively.

“Seasonal job gains normally result in unemployment rate reductions in mid-Michigan in April. This April these metro areas were characterized by modest employment additions and seasonal cuts in the size of the workforce,” said Kevin Doyle, economic analyst, Bureau of Labor Market Information.

During the past year, jobless rates also fell as Midland saw a cut of 0.6 percentage points, Saginaw 0.8 percent and Bay City 0.7 percent. During that time, the jobless rate in Michigan fell 0.8 percentage points, from 5.1 percent to 4.3 percent.

The labor force in Midland increased from 41,800 in March to 41,900 in April while employment also rose from 39,800 to 40,200. Unemployment decreased from 2,000 to 1,700 and the jobless rate fell from 4.8 percent to 4 percent. The past year has seen the jobless rate fall from 4.6 percent to 4 percent.

Saginaw County saw a significant drop from a 5.3 percent jobless rate in March to 4.6 percent in April. Last April the jobless rate was 5.4 percent. The labor force dropped from 90,900 in March to 90,500 in April, but employment rose from 86,100 to 86,300 in the same period.

Bay County’s jobless rate fell from 5.6 percent in April to 4.9 percent in March. April 2015 saw a jobless rate of 5.6 percent. Its labor force dropped from 53,100 in March to 52,800 in April of 2016. The employment rate increased from 50,200 to 50,300 during the same period. Unemployment decreased from 3,000 to 2,600.